Where to Ask Legal Questions Online

Where Can I Ask Legal Questions Online?

Getting legal advice online has never been easier, but finding where to go may be hard.

This article reviews the top online platforms where you can ask legal questions and get reliable answers from lawyers.

We compare live Q&A services, legal forums, and legal aid organizations so you can find the option that fits your needs and budget.

1. Online Legal Q&A Services

The first category of provider is Online Legal Q&A Services. Generally, these services are the best to get quick and quality answers to your legal questions.

What They Are

Online legal Q&A services are platforms that instantly connect you to a lawyer over live chat to ask your questions. Users will subscribe, ask their initial question, and then be instantly connected to a lawyer for unlimited questions.

Pros

• Speed: These platforms are the quickest way to get answers since you are instantly connected with a lawyer.
• Quality: All providers on these platforms should be verified by the company as legitimate lawyers.
• Answer Guarantee: These platforms all guarantee you will get an answer to your question.

Cons

• Costs: All these platforms cost money to use and are not free.
• Subscriptions & Cancellation: These platforms all charge subscription fees. Some offer free trials (or very small fee to start) with higher subscription fees after a certain timeframe. They typically auto-renew and can be hard to cancel.
• No Lawyer Choice: Users do not select the lawyers they relate to, so there is a risk you aren’t connected with the right lawyer.

Best For

• People who need quick answers to their questions
• People who can afford the subscription fee
• People who remember to cancel their subscription

Examples

• LawyersNearMe.com – An AI-powered legal directory that connects you to lawyers via live chat for questions and legal work.
• ContractsCounsel.com – A legal marketplace that offers Expert Legal Chat as a service, which instantly connects you with a lawyer to answer questions.
• AskALawyer.com – A dedicated legal Q&A platform that starts with AI responses and allows you to upgrade to a real lawyer.

2. Legal Directory Forums

The second category of provider is Legal Directory Forums. Generally, these services are best if you do not want to pay anything for an answer but offer no guarantees of getting your question answered or answered in a timely fashion.

What They Are

Legal directories are websites that have thousands of lawyer profiles to browse and reach out to for legal issues. These sites typically have a free forum to use, which allows users to post their questions which attorneys in their directory can provide answers.

Pros

• Free to Use: These forums are free for users to post questions.
• Large Network: These directories have very large networks of lawyers, so you may get multiple answers to review.

Cons

• Time: It may take time for you to receive an answer to your question since you aren’t using live chat.
• No Guarantees: Lawyers are not being paid to respond to questions, so there is no guarantee you receive an answer.
• Sales Pitch: Many lawyers use these forums as business development, so you will inevitably get an answer with a sales pitch to hire them.

Best For

• People who do not have an urgent legal issue
• People who do not have the budget to pay for a service
• People who are willing to wait for answers

Examples

• Avvo.com – Ask A Lawyer : A large US legal directory with a dedicated Q&A forum for users.
• Justia.com – Ask A Lawyer : Another large US legal directory that also has a Q&A forum for users to ask questions.

3. Legal Aid Organizations

The third category is legal aid organizations, which are typically nonprofit/government funded programs.

What They Are

Legal aid organizations are nonprofit and government-funded programs that offer free legal services and assistance to individuals who meet certain income requirements. They help with a host of different services.

Pros

• Free or Low Cost: These services are funded by the government to help low-income individuals.
• Staffed by Lawyers: Legal aid organizations are staffed with licensed lawyers.
• Trustworthy: These services have good reputations and are trustworthy.

Cons

• Eligibility: Individuals will need to meet certain income requirements to use the service.
• Availability: There is a high demand for legal aid services, so the offices may not be available, or you will need to wait.
• Limited Services: Legal aid organizations typically exclude criminal and business law issues.

Best For

• People who cannot afford an attorney
• People who meet the income eligibility requirements
• People who have a non-criminal legal issue

Examples

• Legal Services Corporation: Federally funded organization supporting legal aid outfits across the US.
• LawHelp.org: A national portal to find local legal aid.
• Local Legal Aid Offices: Each state usually has legal aid outfits for their citizens to use.

How to Choose the Right Option

Consider Your Budget

If money is an issue, consider using a legal directory forum or a legal aid organization. If you can afford a small subscription fee, use a legal Q&A service platform since getting answers quickly may be worth it.

Consider the Type of Legal Issue

Q&A sites and legal forums are good for all legal issues. Legal aid organizations may not support all legal issues, so do your research.

Consider Your Urgency

If you need answers now, consider using a legal Q&A service to get instantly connected with a lawyer. If the legal issue is not urgent, start with a legal directory forum.

Ready to Get Legal Help?

If you want to quickly get connected to a lawyer, consider platforms like LawyersNearMe.com, which will connect you to lawyers to answer your questions.